The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called on Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi to prioritise mpox in the upcoming Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit.

The party also wants the department to prioritise access to treatment across the continent, as well as education on prevention and recognition of symptoms to ensure that infected people receive treatment as early as possible.

On Wednesday the World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years, following an outbreak of the viral infection in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that has spread to neighbouring countries.

DA spokesperson on health Michele Clarke noted that while South Africa’s numbers are under control and it has access to Mpox treatment, the fact that the Africa Centres for Disease Control (CDC) declared it a health emergency and the situation in the DRC showed just how fast the situation could change.

Mpox can spread through close contact. Usually mild, it is fatal in rare cases. It causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions on the body.

Clarke said it is vital that the health department engage with the Africa CDC and the AU’s Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development to ensure collaboration in developing a coordinated response to this health emergency on the continent.

The DA said it would keep a close eye on the development of the disease in the country and in the region, urging the health department to provide the parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health with an update on the state of the Treaty for the Establishment of the African Medicines Agency (AMA), which has the potential to transform healthcare across Africa with improved access to safe and effective medicines.

“It must be noted that while the DA supported the AMA Treaty, we have yet to get crucial requested information, including the funding model of the AMA,” Clarke explained.